Fastener



Patented J 3, 1933 reams PATENT onoaon a. ranrrrlcn, or 3mm, connnorrcu'r FAME-HEB Application filed Ianuaryl, 1931. Serial Ho. 507,113.

This invention pertains to separable fasteners of that kind in which series of complementary interengaging fastener elements are arranged along the opposed edges of a.

5 gap or opening in a garment, shoe, receptaole, or other article made of such flexible material as rubber, textile fabric, leather, etc., and relates more particularly to a slider for such fasteners, and to end stop means for 3 cooperation with the slider. As fully pointed out in the patent to R. C. Legat No. 1,773,150, dated August 19, 1930, it is sometimes desirable to employ a slider which permits com plete separation from top to bottom of the; opposed series of fastener elements, as for example when the fastener device is used on a coat-sweater or similar garment to avoid the necessity of drawing the' garment over the wearers head in putting it on or taking 59 it 0d. Not only does this type of slider permit complete separation of the opposed series of fastener elements, but it also allows rapid separation without longitudinal movement of the slider, while a further advantage is found in the fact that if the fastener elements located between the slider and the end stops become separated accidentally, the parts may be restored to operative relation without difficulty, vvhichis not true when other types of slider are employed.

The present invention provides all of the advantages to be found in separable sliders such as shown in the above named patent,

"r and embodies further features of improvement In particular, it provides adequate and reliable means for holding the opposed series of fastener elements in interengaging relation at one end of the opening during the normal operation of the slider while permitting the complete separation of the parts when desired, either by pull exerted on the material of the garment at opposite sides of i the opening after separation of the slider sections, or alternatively by mere downward J pull on the slider actuating tab afterthe slider has engaged the end stop. lhe construction of the improved slide is such that its separable sections are readily separated r at will, although accidental separation either by relative movement in a front to rear direction, as for example throughmovements' of the body of the wearer, is prevented, while the sections are as readil reassembled. and the end stop member's ree gaged at will by a singleoperative manipulation. The improved slider is of rugged and durable construction, capable of manufacture from sheet material by bendingor similar easily performed operations; it occupies substantially no more space thansliders of the usual construction and may be manufactured at a practical cost.

In the accompanying drawing in which one desirable embodiment of the inventionis illustrated by way of example,

,Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a fastener device embodying the present improvements, the slide being in intermediate position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank useful in constructing the body portion of the slider;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the same blank at an intermediate stage in the process of manufacture;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the same blank at a later stage in the operation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank useful in making one of the independent fastener guides comprised in the slider;

Fig. 6 is a view of the latter blank at an intermediate stage in the production of said guide;

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the completed guide to larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the completed guide;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a blank useful in making one of the and stops for cooperation with the slider;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the completed stop;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank useful in making the second or complemental end stop;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of, the latter stop completed;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a blank useful in making the second of the fastener guides;

Fig. 14 is an edge elevation of the latter completed guide to larger scale;

. is to be closed by means 0 Fig. 15 is a in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the assembled slider omittin the pull tab;

Fig. 17 is a ottom plan view of the assembled slider omitting the pull tab;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation illustrating the mode of removal of one of the fastener guides from the body of the slider preparatory to separating the opposed series of fastener elements;

Fig. 19 is a View similar to Fig. 18 but showing separation of the parts as completed; and

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating the mode of re-assembling the parts preparatory to the further use of the slider.

Referring to the drawing, the letter G represents a piece of fabric, for example a portion of a garment, having a gap therein which the fastener device. This fastener device, in common with others of this general type, preferably comprises a pair of flexible. stringers or tapes 1 and 2 which are secured as by stitches or otherwise to the opposite edges of the gap to be closed. These stringers or tapes'may, as usual, have beaded edges to which are secured the opposed series 3 and 4 of interengageable cooperating fastener units. These fastener elements or units may, for example, be of the kind disclosed in the patent to Prentice No. 1,658,392, dated February 17, 1928 or of any other kind suitable for the purpose. A slider S having an actuating pull P is provided for moving the o posed series of fastener elements into an out of cooperative relationship, and the upward movement of this slider, as viewed in Fig- 1 is limited by plan view of the guide shown end stops 5 and 6 which may be of any usual construction.

- ments. Since the present invention contemplates the complete separation of the op posed series of elements from top to bottom,

this latter stop means is designed to permit such separation while at the same time, during the normal use of the slider to unite the stringers firmly at the lower end of the gap with the lowermost of the opposed fastener elements in properly intermeshed relationship. With this object in view I provide the stops 7 and 11, secured respectively to the stringers 1 and 2. The stop 7 is preferably constructed as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 from a unitary piece of sheet material 7 having toothed lateral edges 8, and spaced tabs 9 projecting from its lower edges, (as viewed in Fig. 9) with an elongate tongue 10 projecting at a point intermediate the tabs. The body portion of this member is bent to form a split tube, while the tabs 9 are turned out at right angles, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and the tongue 10 is bent outwardly and then downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. The tubular portion of this stop is caused to embrace the beaded edge of the stringer and is compressed firmly into engagement with the latter so that its toothed edges bite into material of the stringer formingla veryl firm anchora e. As thus arranged, t e tabs 9, 9 project su bstantially at right angles from the front and rear surfaces of the stringer to form sto s engageable with the slider, while the mam portion of the tongue 10 extends substantial ly parallel to the edge of the stringer but spaced from the latter.

The other stop 11 is conveniently made from a piece of sheet material shaped as shown at 11 in Fig." 11, having the toothed I lateral edges 12, and the portion 13 preferably having a rounded contour and having the opening or eye 14. The body portion of this member 11" is bent to form a split tube and the part 13 is bent substantially at right angles to the axis of this tube. The tubular portion is then caused to embrace the edge of the stringer 2'and is pressed into firm engagement with the latter, the part 13 then projecting outwardly from the edge of the stringer in position such that the tongue 10 of the opposite stop 7 may readily be 'infree end of the rear wing 16 is furnished with a recess 19.

The'lateral edges of the front and rear walls ,15 and 16 are bent to form the lateral flanges 22 and 23, and the member 20 is bent substantially along the lines 24 and 25 (Fig. 2) and the neck 17 is bent until the parts occupy substantially the position indicated in Fig. 4. The pull tab P, which has an opening at one end, is now threaded over the part 20 and the latter is further bent until its main portion lies substantially parallel and in spaced relation to the front wall 15. The tongue 21 is now disposed between the tabs 18 and the latter are bent down as shown in Figs. 16 and 18, so as to anchor the tongue in position. This completed body portion or holder of the slider resembles in general appearance completed sliders of certain usual constructions, but instead of receiving the fastener elements of the opposed series directly, constitutes uniting and spacing means for a pair of fastener guides, each having a eeacaa channel for one of the series of fastener elements, respectively, the space between the front and rear we is of the body portion of the slider forming sockets for the reception of the respective guides,

These guides 26 and 260 (Fig. 19) are shaped to fit snugly within the space defined by the front and rear wall and the lateral flanges 22 and 23 of the body portion. The guide 26 may conveniently be formed from a piece of sheet material 26, (Fig. 5) having the tabs 27 and 28 projecting from one of its edges. The material is folded to provide parallel front and rear wal s united by a lateral or inner wall, the front and rear walls being furnished with inturned flanges 29, as shown in Figs-7 and 8. The tab 28 is bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the inner wall, from which it projects. while the tabs 27 and 28 are bent outwardly and then downwardly to form handle members by which this guide is manipulated. Preferably the upper edges of the wings 15 and 16 are furnished with recesses 31 (Fig. 2) into which the upper parts of the handle members 27 may fit, thus enhancing the appearance of the slider and contributing to the secure retention of the parts in assembled relationshi v The guide 260 is made from a piece 260 (Fig. 13) of sheet material having tabs 32 rojecting from one end and a s ngle tab 33 projecting from the other end. This material is bent as shown in Fig. 14 to provide the spaced flanges 34 projecting from front and rear walls connected by a side or inner Wall,

the tabs 32 and 33 being bent substantially at right angles to the length of the guide. Each of the guides 26 and 260 as thus constructed is of split tubular form, it be'ng noted that their inturned flanges are spaced for the reception of the material of the respective stringers, and these guides taper from their upper toward their lower ends to conform to the shape of the slider body, or

more accurately to the socket spaces in such body in which they arereceived. These guides 26 and 260 define the channels for thereception of the opposed series 3 and 4 of fastener elements. The lugs 32 of the guide 260 are received in the recesses 31 at the upper edges of the front and rear wings 15 and 16, While. after assembly with the slider body, the lug 33 is bent over into the recess 19 of the rear wing, thus firmly fixing the guide 260'with'in its socket. On the other hand, the guide 26 may be removed from its socket by relative endw'se movement of the parts, but is normally held within its socketbv the engagement of the short lug 28 beneath the bulging portion of the adjacent bent lug 18. The resiliency of the parts is such that when the handles 27 are seized between the thumb and finger and upward force is exerted, the lug 28 escapes from beneath the part 18, thus allowing? the guide 26 to be withdrawn.

In the ordinary use of the device, both guides 26 and 260 are disposed within their sockets in the body portion of the slider, as shown in Fig. 1, and the slider may be operated in the same way as usual known separable sliders. However, if it be desired to separate the opposed series of fastener elements completely, the guide 26 may be removed from'the body of the slider by relative longitudinal movement, as illustrated in Fi 18, and when completely out of the sli er body the fastener elements may then be pulled directly apart and separated from end to end, as illustrated in Fig. 19, the tongue 10 pulling out of the eye 14 without substantial resistance. '3

While the opposed SGIlQS'T'OffifiStQIlBI elements may be separated as just described, they may, in accordance with the present invention, be more readily. separated merely by drawing the slider down until the lower end of the slider reaches the stops 7 and 11. The stop 11, by engagement with the lower end of the guide 260' prevents further downward movement of the latter, as well as the body portion of the slider, relative to its cooperating series of fasteners, but if force be exerted .on the pull tab tending to continue the downward movement of the slider body, particularly if the operator grasps the portion of the garment to which the stringer 1 is attached, the stringer 2 will be moved bodily down with the slider body relative to the strin er 1, so thatrthe' guide 26 will beremoved longitudinally from the slider body simultaneously with the withdrawal, in longitudinal direction, of the tongue 10 from the eye 14. Thus by a single movement of the slider in the normal direction for opening the gap, the opposed series of fastener 'ele-- ments may be disconnected from end to end, and it will be noted that when thus disconnected the parts are left in proper osition for reengagement. For reengaging t e parts as thus positioned, it is simply necessary, as illustrated in Fig. 20, to move the guide 26 and stop 7 with which it engages downwardly-in the general direction indicated by the arrow A into the channel in the slider body until the tongue 10 engages the eye 14 and the lug 28 snaps into engagement with the part 18- of the slider. The slider is now assembledand in position for normal use in closing the gap.

In the above description reference has been made to the top and bottom of the slider, but such reference is merely for convenience in description and with reference to the illustrations, it being understood that this slider may be used either in the position illustrated or inverted, or in fact in any position suitable for closing or opening a gap. Moreover, as

will be appreciatedv from the foregoing de.

. nectin'g mem scription, the com leted slider comprises in effect two separabe sections, one being, the slider body together with the guide 260 which is fixed therein, and the other being the independent guide 26 normallyseated in a parts and arrangements fall within the scope" of the inventio I claim:

1. A separable fastener of the class described having an opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, an end stop member disposed at one end of each series, said end stop members having normally cooperating elements to prevent separation of the series at said end, a slider comprising normally assembled but separable parts mounted respectively to slide along the opposite series of fastener elements, one of said slider parts having a pull tab, said cooperating stop elements and the slider parts being so constructed and arranged that continued pull on the pull tab in the direction for separating the series'after the slider has engaged the end stop simultaneously separates the slider parts and the cooperating stop elements.

2. A separable fastener of the class described comprising a pair of normally interlocked end stops and a slider comprislng two parts, said parts being in normally interfitting engagement but shaped to permit relative detachment by relative movement longitudinally of the slider, the slider part and end stop at one side of the fastener device being separable from the slider part and end stop of the other side of the fastener device by relative movement longitudinally of theslider.

3. A fastener device of the class described having flexible stringers provided with series of interengaging fastening elements, a coner secured to one stringer at one end of its series of elements, said connecting member having an eye disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the length of the stringer, a connecting element secured to the other stringer at one end of its series of fastener elements, said latter connecting memberhaving a finger projecting substantially parallel with the edge of the stringer and normally engaging the'eye in the first connector member, and a slider comprising separable normally interfitting parts, one of which is associated with one stringer and one with the other stringer, said slider parts being shaped to be disengageable by relative movement longitudinally of the serles of fastener elements. r

4; A separable fastener device of the class described comprisin a pair of stringers each havin a. series of astener elements, disen gagea 1e means for connecting stringers at the end. of the series, and a slider comprising separable parts, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the stringer connectin means may-be engaged by the operation-o assembling one of the slider parts with the other. Y

5. A separable fastener device of the class described comprising" a pair of stringers each having a series of, fastener elements, each stringer having a stop at one end of its series of fastener elements, said stops having connecting parts adapted to cooperate to unite the strmgers, a slider having normally interfitting cooperating parts associated with the respective series of fastener elements, said parts being shaped to be separable by relative longitudinal movement, the connecting parts of the stop being shaped to be engageable and disengageable by relative movement of the slider parts longitudinally of the series of fastener elements.

6. A slide actuated fastener device of the class described having opposed series of fastener elements mounted respectively upon flexible stringers, one of said stringers carrying a stop member, said stop member consisting of a piece of sheet metal bent to engage the edges of the stringer, the longitudinal edges of said stop having teeth for grip ping the stringer, a pair of integral abutment lugs projecting from one end of the stop and extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the stringer for limiting movement of the slider along the stringer, a finger extending substantially parallel to the edge of the strmger and spaced from the latter, and a cooperating part carried by the other stringer or interlocking engagement with said nger.

7 A fastener device of the class described having flexible stringers provided with series of engageable fastener elements, means at one end of the series of fastener elements for connecting the stringers, said connecting means comprising complemental interengaging parts attached to the respective stringers, and a slider for moving the fastener elements of the two stringers into and out of locking engagement, said slider comprisin separable parts constructed and arranged toIie separated from one another by relative movement longitudinally of the stringer, and a pull device carried by one of said parts, the slider and the stringer connecting means being so constructed and arranged that when the slider has been moved to the end of the series of fastener elements, in opening the fastener, further movement of the pull devicein the same direction disengages said interengaging has flexible stringers provided with semes o interengaging fastener elements, fastening connectlng means at one end of the series comprising cooperating normally enwise of the stringers, and a slide, said slide com rising separate parts associated respective y with the opposed series of fastener elements, one of sa1d parts having a socket and the other of said parts fittin within the sock-- et, the socket and said inter tting part being constructed and arranged to permit them to be assembled or separated by relative movement longitudinally of the series of fastener elements.

9. A fastener device of the class described comprising a stringer and a stop member said stop member consist ng of a piece of sheet material having teeth at its lateral edges and bent to a substantially tubular form so as to embrace the edge of the stringer, said stop having an integral projection at one end bent to lie in a plane substantially at ri ht angles with the edge of the stringer,

and avin an eye therein for the reception of a comp emental attaching member.

10. A separable fastener of the class described comprising opposed series of fastener elements and a slider cooperating therewith, said slider comprising two independent sections each having a guide channel for the reception of one of the series of fastener elements res ectively, one of said sections being substantially the full width of the slider and having a socket opening at one end of the slider, said socket opening and the other section being shaped to permit resilient interfitting engagement of the sections by relative longitu inal movement of the sections.

11. A separable fastener of the class described com rising opposed series of fastener elements an a slider cooperating therewith, said slider comprising two independent sections each having a guide channel for the reception of one of the series of fastener. elements respectively, one of said sections being substantially the full width of the slider and having a taperin socket which opens at one end of the sli er, said socket extending longitudinally of the slider, the other section being elon ate lengthwise of the slider, tapering in wi th, and being of such shape and dimensions as to fit removably within. said socket by relative longitudinal movement of said sections.

12. A separable fastener'of the class described comprising opposed series of fastener elements and a shder cooperating therewith,

with, said slider comprising separa said slider compnsmg separable sections, one havm aguide channe for one series of fastener e ements and another having a guide channel for the other series of fastener elements, one of said sections being substantially the full Wldth of the slider and having a tapered socket extending longitudinally of the slider, the other section being taperedin wldth and being adapted to fit in said socket, andmeans for releasably retaining the latter sectlon m its socket while permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

l3. A separable fastener of the class described comprising op. osed series of fastener elements and a sli er cooperatin therefile sections, one having a guide channel for one senes of fastener elements and another having a gu de channel for the other series of fastener elements, one of said sections being substantially the full width of the slider and havmg a socket extending longitudinally of the slider, the other section bein elongate longitudinally of the slider and 0 such size and shape as to permit it removably to fit within the socket by longitudinal movement of one of said sections relatively to the other, and a handle member which is exposed when said latter section is seated in its socket to facilitate removal of said section.

14. A separable fastener of the class described comprising opposed series'of fastener elements and a slider cooperating therewith, said slider comprising se arable sections, one having a guide channel or one series of fastener elements and another having a guide channel for the other series of fastener elements, one of said sections being substantially the full width of the slider and having a tapered socket extending longitudinally of the slider, one end of said socket opening at the end of the slider, the other section being tapered and elongate lengthwise of the slider and of such size and shape as to rmit it to be fitted within said socket an to be removed therefrom b relative movement of the sections longitu 'nallyof the slider while preventing relative lateral movement of the sections, and handle means secured to the socket section and exposed at the front and rear of the slider when said removable section is disposed in its socket so as to facilitate removal of said. latter section.

15. A slider for use with fasteners of the class described comprising a body portion having spaced front and rear wings having lateral inturned flanges, and a pair of fastener guides interposed between said wings and e aging said flanges, one of said guides being xed in position and the other being removable.

16. A slider for use with fasteners of the class described comprising a body portion having spaced front and rear walls and a pair of split tubular fastener guides interhavings aced front and rear walls and a pair of astener guides interposed between said walls, one of said guides having. securing pair of astener guides interposed between' tabs engagin the body portion of the slider to revent re ative movement of said ide an bod portion and the other guide in-g removab e, the latter guide havin a lug normally'engaging a part of the sli er body to prevent accidental separation of the parts.

18. A slider for use with fasteners of the class described comprising'a body portion having s aced front and rear walls and a said .walls, one of said ides having securing tabs engaging the ody portion of the slider to revent relative movement of said ide an bod portion and the other guide fi ing removab e, the latter guide having projecting lugs which are ex osed at front and back respectively of the sllder bod when the guide is in operative position, sai lugs constituting handles by means of which the guide maybe remove from the slider body.

19. A slider ;.for use with fasteners of the class described comprising a body portion having spaced front and rear walls and a pair of fastener guides interposed between said walls, one 0 said guides being fixed in position by means of lugs projecting into en-' gagement with the upper and lower edges of one of the walls at least of the slider body, and the other uide being removable by movement longitu inally of the slider body, said latter guide having handles which normally overhang the front and rear walls of the slider body to facilitate removal of said guide.

. 20. A slider for separable fasteners of that type having series of cooperable elements, said slider comprising a pair of independent fastener guides, each guide .consistin of a single piece of sheet material bent to orm a split tubular structure taperin from one end toward the other, and a hol er for said guides, one of the guides being fixed in the holder and the other being removable, the holder and removable guide bein constructed to permit relative longitudina movement therebetween but to prevent relative lateral movement therebetween. i

21. In a slide fastener, a sliding cam device comprising a separable pair of cam members adapted to slide on the stringers of the fastener, an end stop for the starting end of the fastener comprising a separable pair of stop members,.,an means for joining said members together, said joining means being so designed that the stop members may be separated only when'the cam members are separated.

22. In a slide fastener, a sliding cam device comprising a separablepair of cam members adaptedto slide on the stringers of the fastener, and an end stop for aslide fastener comprising a separable pair of stop members having interlocking portions for joining said members together, said interlocking ortions being so designed that they can not separated when the slide fastener is partially or wholly closed.

23. In a slide fastener, a sliding cam device comprising a separable pair of cam members adapted to slide on the stringers of the fastene'r, an end stop comprising a separable pair -of stop members adapted to'be fastened'to the stringers at one end thereof, means for comprising a separable pair of cam members.

adapted to slide on the stringers of the fastener, an end stop comprising a separable pair of stop members adapted to be fastened to the stringers near one end thereof, said cam members and stop members each being provided with means for joiningthe members: of the pairs together, and means for releasing the jo3ning means, said joining and releasing means being so relatively arranged that the pairs of cam members and stop members may be simultaneously joined or separated.

25. A slide fastener comprising a complete- 1y separable pair of stringers, a sliding cam device comprising a separable pair of cam members arranged to slide on said stringers, a pair. of separate stop members at one end of said stringers, and a pair of separable stop members at the other end of said stringers having means for joining them together and so arranged that they may be separated only when the stringers have been opened bythe.

sliding cam device. 7

Signed by me at Berlin, Connecticut this third day of January, 1931.

' GEORGE E. PRENTICE. 

